Accident Report on Japan Airlines Flight 472

Details
• Date: 24 September 1972
• Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-53
• Operator: Japan Airlines
• Registration: JA8013
• Departure: London
• Destination: Tokyo
• Accident Location: Juhu Airport, Bombay
• Pax/Crew: 108/14
• Fatalities: 0
• Injuries: 11
• Survivors: 122 (all)
 Synopsis
• JAL472 was a multi stopover flight from London to Tokyo, one of the
stopovers en-route being Bombay.
• On September 24, 1972 the flight landed at Juhu Airport instead of
Santacruz Airport.
• The flight departed London 20mins late and by the time it left Tehran for
Bombay it as delayed by 80mins.
• Overhead Bombay since the wx was good they were cleared for a VFR
approach.
• Flight 472 flew past Runway 09 on the west side of Santacruz Airport while
descending, and executed a 360-degree turn in order to approach again
from the west and land. However, when it did land at 06:50 local
time (01:20 UTC), it was in fact landing on Runway 08 of Juhu Aerodrome
which was too short to accommodate the landing of Big aircrafts.
• After deploying reverse thrusters, pilot realised his mistake and deployed
spoilers and maximum braking power.
• The Aircraft overshot the runway, breaking off both port side engines
damaging both main and nose landing gears
 Causes
• Pilot error
• Indian authorities were also blamed for operating Juhu airport
close to Santacruz airport, causing confusion.
• During the 360-degree turn, flight 472 faced sun and morning
mist due to which they lost visual with Santacruz Runway.
• When suddenly they saw Runway of Juhu airport they mistook
it as Santacruz Runway and landed on it.
 Lessons to be learnt
• Pilot should be aware of the number of airfields in the vicinity of
the destination aerodrome.
• Initiate a Go-Around if you feel you are overshooting the runway.
• Follow the SOP.
Fly Safe And Happy Landings…!!!!!!!